Did you think the only strange thing about Mormonism is their underwear? The short history of LDS church is very interesting. While the book centers oDid you think the only strange thing about Mormonism is their underwear? The short history of LDS church is very interesting. While the book centers on a murder of a housewife by a group of ignorant, overzealous church members, Krakauer delves into the violent history of the LDS. Starting with Joseph Smith's murdering those members who disagreed with him to the contemporary church membership. That said, the church I attend (Episcopal) has a longer history of murder and violence than the Mormons, but it is always interesting to look at the faults of others. The part I found fascinating is where Krakauer writes about the groups of men who weekly get together to discuss received revelations....more

This is the fourth edition of Balmer's book, which was also a series on PBS, most of the essays were written 20 years ago and now seem dated. This ediThis is the fourth edition of Balmer's book, which was also a series on PBS, most of the essays were written 20 years ago and now seem dated. This edition also contains two essays written ten years ago, and two more written for this new edition. Balmer, formerly a evangelical, approaches his subjects, who range from Jimmy Swaggart to a Native-American Episcopal priest in North Dakota, with respect and without comical irony. However, he does does point out the contradictions and short comings in his subjects' theology and teachings. He especially chides Evangelicals for being materialistic, when Jesus was concerned about the poor. The last essay in the book focuses on Rick Warren. My main complaint is that he didn't analyze his subjects deeper, still it is a good survey of Evangelicals...more

This is a quick read about a difficult and broad subject. Wills is a prolific writer, covering subjects as diverse as Lincoln, the Catholic Church andThis is a quick read about a difficult and broad subject. Wills is a prolific writer, covering subjects as diverse as Lincoln, the Catholic Church and theology. Most of what Wills has to say about Jesus and the Gospels he gleaned from the theologian Raymond Brown, therefore feels condensed and watered down. Still it is a good starting point to understanding the focus of each gospel, but I felt like wanted to know more. I guess I have to read more Brown for myself....more

Niebuhr wrote in the mid 1900's when the US had public intellectuals, I think last one of those we've had was Susan Sontag. Anyway, Niebuhr wrote abouNiebuhr wrote in the mid 1900's when the US had public intellectuals, I think last one of those we've had was Susan Sontag. Anyway, Niebuhr wrote about religion and it's effect on American society. In this book which was written around 1950 when the U.S. and Russia were engaged in the Cold War, Niebuhr talks about the moral use of power and that we should not make too much of virtue when confronting communism. (American are real idiots in overestimating our own goodness and our subsequent entitlements in the world.) The same could be applied to our dealings with terrorism. A very wise, sobering and thoughtful book....more

I found this book fascinating. Strozier, an atheist, historian and psychoanalyst explores the culture of fundamentalism in Manhattan. He visits fellowI found this book fascinating. Strozier, an atheist, historian and psychoanalyst explores the culture of fundamentalism in Manhattan. He visits fellowships from Harlem to Wall Street talking to people about their belief in the coming end of the world. What was interesting is how invested these people were in their own vision of what was going to happen. Everyone had their own version of coming events. The author talks about how each person's experience informed their view. So much for the Bible being inerrant.

The second part of the book, he writes about endism, as he calls it has been part of America's history, and how it is part of our society. It is even a big issue in New Age thinking. ...more

This is an awful book. My priest gave it to me, not having read it himself. No doubt, he, like myself thought the book would be about believing in GodThis is an awful book. My priest gave it to me, not having read it himself. No doubt, he, like myself thought the book would be about believing in God and believing in evolution. Unfortunately, only about 5 per cent of the book is about that, the rest is Dowd rambling hither and yon about God and life. He travels around the country giving workshops on what he calls evolutionary spirituality, with his wife, Connie, the atheist. (Sounds like he could be a frequent guest on Oprah.) She gets saved about three quarters through the book. A glorious moment.

My biggest laugh is after talking about the importance of integrity, he said, it is alright for creationists to have their beliefs. I'm sorry, you can't have it both ways. Also, he talks about how much his wife helped in writing the book, then why isn't listed as a co-author.

He intersperses quotes from other people from Robert Wright to Philip K. Dick to John Shelby Spong. The book is a mess, Dowd is a mess....more

I've read other books by Wright, and found his arguments interesting. Unfortunately, I am not sure of some his notions about evolution, since there isI've read other books by Wright, and found his arguments interesting. Unfortunately, I am not sure of some his notions about evolution, since there is a difference between genes for blue eyes and genes for, let's say, picking a mate, which he makes an argument for. (For men it involves picking a woman with a certain hip to waist ratio that would make her a good candidate for child bearing.) Anyway, the purpose of this book is to explore the idea that since society is becoming more moral, our conception of God is becoming more moral as well, and the two are connected. First of all, he hasn't convinced me the world is becoming more moral, and if it was obvious society is more moral, that still wouldn't prove God. A person has to make a leap of faith somewhere.

Wright starts with primitive views of God and progresses through history to the establishment of Islam. He talks about shamanism and persons supposedly being possessed by god or gods. A prehistory Elmer Gantry of sorts. Then he moves from many gods, to Abraham and the Jews notion of one God. The Jews, Christians and Muslims get their God from the same revelation of God. From here on he covers territory previously covered by religion historians, such as Karen Armstrong. He says very little about Far Eastern Religions.

His arguments are good until he gets to St. Paul. He posits Paul was in spreading the gospel to make money. The church was his way of networking the Roman world so he would get customers for his tent tent making business. If this was true, why didn't he mention it in his letters. "I just made a wonderful tent for Silas. Now if he would only pay me."

His take on Paul made me wonder about his later take on Islam, of which I am pretty ignorant about. Wright never really answer his question about God and morality, in fact, I don't think he believes in God. himself....more

When I was at an evangelical college in the early 70's, one of my heroes was Francis Schaeffer who ran a hippie drop in Switzerland. He wasn't a crazyWhen I was at an evangelical college in the early 70's, one of my heroes was Francis Schaeffer who ran a hippie drop in Switzerland. He wasn't a crazy conservative, but cultured. As time went on I lost my admiration for Francis, the final straw when he joined up with the crazies like Falwell and Roberts in the 80's. In his memior by his son Frank, we learn that the elder Schaeffer was persuaded to become pro-life (anti-abortion) by Frank. Something Frank now regrets. Frank tell some disgusting stories about those high profile evangelicals. In the end, Frank joins the Greek Orthodox Church, almost becoming agnostic....more

One of the things that drives me crazy about atheists is that they look at history of religion and point to the violence done in the name of God. WhatOne of the things that drives me crazy about atheists is that they look at history of religion and point to the violence done in the name of God. What an easy target! (They very seldom deal with metaphysical arguments.) Ms. Armstrong shows that over and over, the wars weren't about theological disputes but rather power and politics. The book made me think differently about how I see the violence in the mid-east. Especially, the role of the U.S. ...more

There are very few people I've read who I admire as much a Ali. She tells a harrowing story of being raise Muslim in Somalia, Kenya and Arabia. Her grThere are very few people I've read who I admire as much a Ali. She tells a harrowing story of being raise Muslim in Somalia, Kenya and Arabia. Her grandmother, against her father's wishes, had her genitals mutilated. Then she escapes to Netherlands to avoid a forced marriage that her father had arranged. While there she speaks out against the savage practices that happen to many Muslim women, for which she recieved death threats. I have watched a few of her videos on You Tube. The most interesting is her debate with other Muslims on whether or not Islam is a violent religion....more